[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Pages 45295-45296]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office 

[www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 02-16678]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-68-AD; Amendment 39-12799; AD 2002-13-11]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC120B 

Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters that requires 

installing front and side covers to protect the yaw control. This 

amendment is prompted by a report of a mobile phone falling between the 

windshield canopy (canopy) and the cabin floor jamming the yaw control 

pedal. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent an 

object from sliding between the canopy and the cabin floor, loss of yaw 

control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective August 13, 2002.

 The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 

the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 

of August 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 

obtained from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand 

Prairie, Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-

3527. This information may be examined at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Monschke, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5116, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 

include an AD for ECF Model EC120B helicopters was published in the 
Federal Register on February 14, 2002 (67 FR 6886). That action 

proposed to require installing front and side covers to protect the yaw 

control.

 The Direction General De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the 

airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe 

condition may exist on this model helicopter. The DGAC advises of a yaw 

control jamming caused by an object that slid between the canopy and 

the cabin floor.

 ECF has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005, dated July 30, 

2001 (ASB), which specifies installing a front and side protection on 

the cabin floor to protect the yaw control. The DGAC classified this 

ASB as mandatory and issued AD No. 2001-386-007(A), dated September 5, 

2001, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in 

France.

 This helicopter model is manufactured in France and is type 

certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 

14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to the 

applicable bilateral agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed of

the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the 

DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action 

is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 

operation in the United States.

 Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 

in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 

proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. The FAA 

has determined that air safety and the public interest require the 

adoption of the rule as proposed except that we have corrected the date 

of the DGAC AD in Note 4 from September 15, 2001 to September 5, 2001 

and added ``Eurocopter'' to paragraph (a) of the AD. These changes will 

neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 

scope of the AD.

 The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 44 helicopters of U.S. 

registry and will take 2 work hours per helicopter to accomplish the 

required actions. The average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required 

parts will cost approximately $851 per helicopter. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators 

to be $42,724.

 The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 

effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 

Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 

is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 13132.

 For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 

not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 

(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a 

significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 

number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 

and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 

from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

 Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 

Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 

the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

[[Page 45296]]

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

 Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

 2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 

to read as follows:

2002-13-11 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-12799. Docket No. 2001-

SW-68-AD.

 Applicability: Model EC120B helicopters, serial numbers 1001 

through 1278, inclusive, certificated in any category.

 Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the 

preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 

requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, 

altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 

this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 

alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of 

this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 

the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 

addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been 

eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 

address it.

 Compliance: Required within 90 days, unless accomplished 

previously.

 To prevent an object from sliding between the canopy and the 

cabin floor, loss of yaw control, and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter, accomplish the following:

 (a) Install front and side covers (protections) to protect the 

yaw control in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 2.B., Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005, dated 

July 30, 2001 (ASB), except the correct reference to the Aircraft 

Maintenance Manual in subparagraph 2.B.2 of the ASB is 20-10-00, 3-

8. If the helicopter has flight controls at both the pilot and copilot stations, front and side protections are required at both 

stations.

 Note 2: Figure 1 of the ASB depicts the right-hand side of the 

cockpit.
 (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 

compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 

used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 

FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and 

then send it to the Manager, Regulations Group.

 Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 

obtained from the Regulations Group.

 (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 

CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where 

the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

 (d) Installing the front and side covers (protections) to 

protect the yaw control shall be done in accordance with 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B., Eurocopter Alert 

Service Bulletin No. 67A005, dated July 30, 2001 (ASB). This 

incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the 

Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 

51. Copies may be obtained American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-

3460, fax (972) 641-3527. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Office 

of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 

663, Fort Worth, Texas; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 

800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

 (e) This amendment becomes effective on August 13, 2002.

 Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 

Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD 2001-386-007(A), dated 

September 5, 2001.

 Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 25, 2002.

David A. Downey,

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 02-16678 Filed 7-8-02; 8:45 am]

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